Song of the Day: The past week has featured a selection of wonderful Scottish artists, several of whom admire and have been influenced by this American singer-songwriter whose voice and simplicity of style has power and profundity

This week’s selection includes a collaboration between the Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer and Danger Mouse, plus The Cinematic Orchestra, Stephen Malkmus going electronic, and original sounding pop from Nilüfer Yanya

A selection of great contrasts and innovations includes a debut from the British rapper, experimental work from Solange, rare and unreleased material from folk legend Townes Van Zandt, and the return of industrial artists Test Dept

This week’s selection roundup includes a raucous return for Royal Trux after 19 years and Robert Forster’s second in a decade, plus a chorus of of beautiful vocalists from Self Esteem to Alice Phoebe Lou and a whole lot more

Song of the Day: A tribute to the king of the surf guitar after his recent passing aged 81, hugely influential on Jimi Hendrix and other rock guitarists, the left-hander’s rock guitar style was shaped by his Lebanese background

Song of the Day: To mark the 30th anniversary of the world wide web, a very prescient 1997 song about the online world by the prolific Scottish artist also known as Nick Currie from his 11th studio album (of dozens), Ping Pong

Song of the Day: Today’s song, in celebration of women, is from the British singer-songwriter from her debut album Dry – a robust defence of and pride in the female body in response to an insulting lover

Song of the Day: Another sudden death of a great performer, and this time a tribute to the Prodigy’s Keith Flint, who began as a dancer for the punk rave band, but who’s magnetic presence turned into a charismatic co-frontman

Song of the Day: Returning to the nextdoor dispute theme, a fabulously catchy number the by Brixton reggae artists and DJ, aka Anthony Henry, relating neighbours’ noise clash from his 1986 album Is It Really Happening To Me

Song of the Day: After the ‘fuss and fight’ of the Paragons and later Massive Attack on Man Next Door, and reverse of perspective from the neighbour making the noise, in a powerful version by the great and underrated English folk guitarist and singer

Song of the Day: After A Quiet Place by Garnet Mimms, more neighbour disturbance with a ‘68 rocksteady classic inspired by another song penned by Paul Witt, and then an electronic landmark sung by Horace Andy from 1998’s album Mezzanine

Word of the week: To celebrate St Patrick’s Day, here’s to that popular term for gossip, chat, fun banter, and entertainment, most commonly used in Ireland but also across the British Isles. But where does it come up in song lyrics?

Word of the Week: It means an uproarious drunken brawl, a scene of heated argument and fighting, and an Irish jig, but takes its name from a longstanding fair in a district of Dublin. So where does this word appear in lyrics?

Word of the week: They are from the heron family of water-fishing birds, various in size and colour but mostly white, elegant, angular and thin, and are beautiful to watch, but how is this unusual word used in song lyrics?

Word of the week: It means pseudo-intellectual nonsense, insincerity or a confidence trick perpetrated by elected officials, so while antiquated, always current and relevant, and with a lovely musicality where has it been used in lyrics?

Word of the week: Let’s extend the lyrical wardrobe. It’s a smooth, durable, twill-woven worsted, rayon or cotton cloth material and also the name of coat, but is a also beautifully sounding, musical word, perfectly suited to sung words